LAHORE: The Pakistan Airline Pilots Association says it will go on strike if the management does not scrap its plan to hire pilots on contract.

“Converting pilots jobs into contractual is not only a safety risk for flying community but will put pilots in distress. We have decided to go on strike if the management refuses to consult us on this issue,” PALPA president Capt Amir Hashmi said in a statement here on Tuesday.

According to the National Transport Safety Board, the US, a pilot in distress or disgruntled over leaves, salary, compensation or domestic issues was a risk for flight safety, he said, adding all efforts globally were being made to involve International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) whenever a decision regarding pilots was taken by any airline.

Similarly, he said the airlines were supposed to consult their pilots’ associations to decide over the financial issues, duty time limitation, job positions and office duties etc.

Capt Amir Hashmi said the Palpa was a bargaining body with a responsible role in aviation sector so it must be consulted on this important issue. “The pilots will withdraw extra cooperation with the management in the first phase before going on complete strike,” Capt. Hashmi said.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2015

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